Dominion of the Orc

 

Dominion of the Orc

The latest (I think) of the prolific Steve Parker's Dominion of... rules brings very fast play solo wargaming into the world(s) of Fantasy wargaming. Anyone who has already tried the format will quickly get started with Dominion of the Orc, which basically plays like Dominion of the Spear with magical knobs on. For me, the fun part is going to be working the Fantasy monsters and "Support" units (including flying units, assassins and Mages, ie Magic Using individuals of various types) into the amies. I tried a couple of games yesterday using my armies of Men and Orcs from my Arnor (Middle Earth) project and I can report an enjoyable outcome! I have a little bit of painting to do before I can try all the Support units but the following hopefully gives a flavour of the Rules. The figures are mostly Copplestone Castings 10-12mm (available in UK from North Star) and the two Mages were, I think, from Pendraken.

The first game was a simple pitch battle, so very much like DotS; the second involved Mages. The Orcs were Attackers in both games and are on the right-hand side in the photos.

The purple mini dice indicate Elite units; the white show unreliable units.

A victory for the Orcs - being the Attackers is an advantage though not overwhelmingly so.

In the second battle, the Orcs deployed a Shaman who raised magical defences for two of the units, indicated by black mini dice.

The Army of Men fielded a Wizard who used an offensive spell that managed to turn one of the Orc units unreliable (some sort of Fear spell?), which was handy as it was an Elite unit that had been magically given more defencive capabilities.

 The battle progressed

and this time victory went to the Army of Men

For my games I'm definitely going to add a Home Rule regarding the use of Hero/Anti-Hero units that can be either embedded with a unit (for +1 advantage) or fight independently as an Elite Unit.

A fun Solo game (that could also be played with two players - see App D of the rules) if you like short, sharp battles, and a good way to resolve battles in a mini campaign.

Arnor Project - Battle of the North Downs

Harl the Helmless led what was left of the fleeing Arnorians towards the North Downs after their defeat at the hands of Angmar's vanguard (see HERE). 

The Orcs were moving faster than their quarry and caught up with them at the very feet of the hills. The Downs Guard, regular soldiers of Arnor, could see the two forces from their earthwork defenses.

Men of Arnor turn to give fight

The Orcs, once again led by their fierce Captain ('Orrible 'Ornblower), rushed forward and battle ensued.

The heavily outnumbered Arnorians fought bravely but slowly gave ground, falling back to the more defensive position and the fresh soldiers guarding the Downs.

The Arnorians finally reached Exhaustion Point, but were at least now uphill of their enemy and able to defend themselves. The Orcs fought on but they too fell at last to exhaustion.

The battle of the North Downs was over.

Next time, attention turns to the main force of Orcs whose passage West has bypassed the hill country and now begins to progress South towards the City of Fornost.

Arnor Project - First game

 

Yesterday evening witnessed my first game set in J R R Tolkien's Lost Kingdom of Arnor. It was not a great success as I wasn't happy with the rules I was play testing (an adaptation of the 3x3 PW). Still, I'm not one to waste stuff if I can help it, so here are a few pictures of the action.

A large Army of Orcs has been sent by the Witch-King of Angmar to ravage and plunder the lands beyond the North Downs. The leading elements have encountered, and pursued, a retreating band of Arnorians led by Harl the Helmless. 

 Harl's rearguard warn him that the fast moving Orcs are almost upon his column. The men of Arnor, mostly farmers and herdsmen, turn and make a stand on a ridge, with their backs to a wood.

Men of Arnor

Advance of the Orcs

Wolf Riders about to hit the Arnorian flank

The end of the beginning

Having been whittled away by the overwhelming strength of the Angmar force, Harl and the surviving men of North Arnor escaped into the forest, and made their way towards the Downs, picking up stragglers on the way...

Arnor Project Update

 In November of last year (where did those 6 months go?) I posted a couple of pictures of Orcs I'd been painting for a little project set in Tolkien's Lost Realm of Arnor (Middle Earth 1500ish years before the War of the Ring). 

I have (finally) got round to painting some men of Arnor to oppose them. Again they are from Copplestone Castings and are about 10mm size. As to be expected from Mark Copplestone, these are very nice figures.

I have more to paint but enough finished for a small game to get things started.